Abstract

Sustainability is a framework for exploring a community within its broadest possible context, and looking at hazards and disasters as integral parts of the much larger environment in which it exists. Community represents an integrated paradigm of social, cultural, economic, and environmental spheres in which people participate simultaneously. As a result, physical and mental disaster health impacts are inseparable. To build surge capacity, hospitals need to move from theory to practice suggesting a resource-based, community participatory model. By partnering with community resources, the hospital becomes more resilient and, in the case of mental health and psychosocial impacts, the hospital facility and the continuation of its services become a fundamental part of the resiliency of the community. A disaster mental health pedagogical intervention was piloted by the Center for Integrated Disaster Preparedness and the Colorado Hospital Association and an evaluation of the intervention was conducted to determine strengths and gaps in resources that remain. The results suggest that resources in the community represent the most readily available opportunities for capacity building and for bridging many gaps. The dynamics of supporting relationships will be explored and two case studies, a community hospital and teaching hospital, will be presented as examples of success.